Chapters

Sayr’s head throbbed as she hit the ground, her body sprawled against the earth and a spear at her throat. She kept her eyes squeezed shut, waiting for the throbbing pain to cease and finally opened them to stare up at her opponent. Standing above Sayr, the tip of their dulled spear dug harder into her neck. A sliver of the sun rose over the grassy plains in the east, casting a bronze glow over her opponent’s silhouette. They lifted a hand and flames shot at Sayr, landing in the dirt just to her right with a sizzle.

Sayr could feel the heat of the sizzling flames lick her cheek. She craned her neck to peer at the scorched earth just inches from her dirt-caked hair, then glared up at her opponent.

“And just like that, you’re dead,” Marenda said.